Lisa the Skeptic

"Lisa the Skeptic"
The Simpsons episode
The townspeople see the "angel" "come to life".
Episode no.	Season 9 Episode 8
Directed by	Neil Affleck
Written by	David X. Cohen
Production code	5F05
Original air date	November 23, 1997 (1997-11-23)
Guest appearances
Stephen Jay Gould as himself Phil Hartman as Lionel Hutz
Episode features
Chalkboard gag	"I will not tease fatty"
Couch gag	The living room is a sauna, with three men in towels relaxing. The Simpsons (also in towels) arrive, but leave sheepishly as the three men glare at them.
Commentary	Matt Groening Mike Scully David X. Cohen George Meyer Yeardley Smith Pete Michels
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons" Next → "Realty Bites"
The Simpsons season 9
List of episodes

"Lisa the Skeptic" is the eighth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 23, 1997. On an archaeological dig with her class, Lisa discovers a skeleton that resembles an angel. All of the townspeople believe that the skeleton actually came from an angel, but skeptical Lisa attempts to persuade them that there must be a rational scientific explanation. The episode's writer, David X. Cohen, developed the idea after visiting the American Museum of Natural History, and decided to loosely parallel themes from the Scopes Monkey Trial. The episode also makes allusions to actual hoaxes, such as the Cardiff Giant.

It has been discussed in the context of ontology, existentialism, and skepticism; it has also been used in Christian religious education classes to initiate discussion about angels, science, and faith.